Glider



Aug. 15, 1939.

H. T. HALLERAN ETIAL GLIDER Filed March 22,. 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 vugl5, 1939 H. T. HALLERAN ET AL 2,169,728

GL IDER Filed March 22, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M om Hu. Nh rm. Qhlll/ @mv @m uw NW H Wh n @w im! w1 H M Wh. mw m mln! nw.- I m m Qm hn.- a @l-QW "/,K mmh is \..\\,*h||| HVTHVJIIIIIHTTJLWW-UIJUIHHHIHWVUIIWIIIIIINJHHHI |H IUI.. ||lh\|U. n|r||l.ml|||l|llE-I:IlllllwmllllllllM CLIJRHWWHMIIII mw. @ww QW All@ 1.5. 1939 H. T.HALLERAN ET AL 2,169,728

GLIDER Filed March 22, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIII Patented Aug. 15, 1939PATENT OFFICE GLIDER Henry T. Halleran, Roselle, and Robert C'arlon,

Elizabeth, N. J., assignors to Simmons Com- Dany, New York, N. Y

Ware

., a corporation of Dela- Application March 22, 1937, Serial No. 132,248

9 Claims.

This invention relates to gliders and has particular reference to theconstruction of a glider so that it may be easily disassembled forshipping Vand storage purposes and easily reassembled when it is desiredto set it up for use.

The main objects are to provide a glider construction in which the mainor supporting frame may be folded or collapsed to an unusually compactand flat condition to facilitate storage, packl0 ing and shipping of theglider structure; to provide readily engageable and disengageable meansfor connecting the seat section to the supporting frame; to provide aneasily engageable and disengageable but unusually secure connectionbetween a back rest and the seat section; and in general, it is theo-bject of the invention to provide an improved glider of the characterindicated.

Other objects and advantages of the invention 3G will be understood byreference to the following specification and accompanying drawings (3sheets), wherein there is disclosed an improved glider constructionembodying a selected form of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan wherein certain portions are only partially shown so asto reveal other portions of the structure;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective showing the supporting frame in partially foldedor collapsed condition;

Fig. 5 is a perspective showing the supporting frame in fully collapsedcondition;

Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary plan views illustrating a detail ofconstruction and showing two positions of the parts illustrated, and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section through a portion of the supportingframe showing certain. de- 40 'tails of construction.

Referring now to the drawings, the glider construction disclosedcomprises a main frame structure I0, a seat section II and a back restI2. The seat section and back rest are suitably intercon- .13 nected aswill be presently described and these parts are swingably mounted on themain or supporting frame IU.

The supporting frame I0 comprises a tie rod I3 and a pair of upstandingnormally vertically ,30 disposed end members I4 and i5, respectively.The tie rod I3 and the end members lll and I5 are preferably of angleiron construction and the end members each comprise a base or foot partI6 having its intermediate portion offset upwardly 55 relative to itsend portions (as clearly shown in Fig. 3), so that its end portionsconstitute, in eifect, feet. Risers I'l, II are rigidly secured to thebase members IB and have secured to their upper ends a transverselyextending top rail I8. The risers Il, I'I are also connectedintermediate n their ends by means of a cross member I9 which has itsends rigidly secured to the respective risers.

The end frames I4 and I5 are pivotally connected to the respectivelyadjacent ends of the .z tie rod I3, each pivotal connection beingpreferably made by means of a pivot pin in the form of a rivet such asindicated at 20, a spacer being interposed between the tie rod portionand the underlying flange portion 2l of the base member, so as to spacethe tie rod upwardly a distance substantially equal to the thickness ofa brace member 22.

A brace member, such as 22, is provided at each end of the structure andsuch brace member is pivotally secured at one end by means of a rivet 23to the normally horizontal flange of the tie rod and the other end ofthe brace is provided with a notch 24 which is adapted to engage aheaded pin 25 carried by the foot member of the end frame. It will beseen that when the notched end of the brace 22 is in engagement with theheaded pin 25 of the end frame, the latter will be locked insubstantially right angular, operative relation to the tie rod.

Another brace 26 is employed at each e-nd of the structure formaintaining the adjacent end frame in substantially vertically extendingright angular relation to the tie rod. Each brace 26 is pivoted asindicated at 2l to the horizontal iange of the tie rod, and as indicatedat 28 to the horizontal ange of the cross member I9. The pivotconnection 2U between the tie rod is substantially axially aligned withthe pivot connection 28 between the end frame and the brace 25 so thatthe end frame may be folded relative to the tie rod into substantiallyparallel relation to the latter while maintaining the indicated normalvertical relationship thereto. It will be understood also that the endframes assume a position sub- 45 stantially parallel to each other whenthey are folded as indicated.

The tie rod I3 is preferably formed of two sections, one being a longsection 29 and the other a shorter section 30, these sections beingpivotally connected as indicated at 3l. The pivot 3l is, in thisinstance, closely adjacent the end of the short tie rod section 30 andspaced somewhat from the adjacent end of the tie rod section 29, so thata short end portion 32 of the tie rod 55 section 29 extends beyond thepivot 3 I. The free end of the projecting end portion 32 is providedwith a notch 33 for receiving a locking pin 34 which is carried by alocking device. The locking device comprises an elongated member 35,preferably a length of angle iron, the locking pin 34 being iixedlysecured in one ange of the member 35. The other end of the same flangeof the member 35 is provided with a slot 35 which receives a portion ofthe pivot pin 3l, so that the member- 35 may slide longitudinallyrelative to the tie rod sections. The pivot pin 3| is preferably headedover as best shown in Fig. 8, so as to permanently anchor the member 35to the tie rod while permitting the said sliding movement thereof to beeffected. The tie rod section 38 is provided with a slot 3l throughwhich the locking pin 34 projects and in which slot the said locking pinis adapted to move back and forth incident to adjustment of the lockingmember 35.

When the tie rod sections 29 and 38 are disposed in longitudinalalignment, i. e., in operative position, the slidable locking-member 35is adjusted to cause the locking pin 34 to enter the notch 33. When thelocking pin is so positioned it will be apparent that the tie rodsections 29 and 3E! are locked against folding movement. When it isdesired to collapse the frame, the slidable locking member 35 isadjusted lengthwise to disengage the pin 34 from the notch 33, therebypermitting the tie rod sections tobe folded one upon the other asindicated in Figs. 4 to r1 inclusive.

It is preferable that the arrangement be such that the end frames may befolded into substantially coplanar relation to the respective tie rodsections to which they are attached. To facilitate such folding, one ofthe risers I'I of each of the end frames has its inwardly extending angeportion notched out as indicated at 38 to receive portions of the tierod and the brace 26 when the end frame is folded. By this means the endframes may be folded to substantially parallel coplanar relation to therespective tie rod sections with which they are associated. As shown,the arrangement is such that the end frames are folded in oppositedirections so that they are disposed on opposite sides of the tie rod.When the tie rod is folded upon itself, so that the parts are disposedin the position indicated in Fig. 5, both end frames are located on oneside of the collapsed tie rod and in nearly coplanar relation to eachother. 'I'his arrangement results in a compactly folded structure whichmay be packaged with the other parts of the glider or stacked with suchother parts in a neat, orderly and compact arrangement.

The seat section Il is suspended for swinging movement from the ends ofthe cross members I8. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the front edge ofthe seat section is supported by a hanger 39 which is pivotallyconnected as indicated at 40 to the front end of the cross bar I8. Thepivot connection 40 is preferably so constructed that it is somewhatelongated to thereby provide spaced points of supports for the hangerwhich tends to prevent swinging of the hanger in the direction of itspivot axis. The lower end of the hanger 39 is provided with a suitablyformed hook 4I which engages the free end of a bracket bar 42 whichextends from and is rigidly secured to the frame structure of the seatsection II. The rear edge of the seat section is similarly suspended bymeans of a hanger rod 43 which is equipped at its upper end with a hookfor entering an `cross bar I8 since the said hangers normally occupypositions within the plane of the end frames and hence offer nointerference with the folding or packaging of the frame structure.

The back rest I2 is also preferably of angle iron construction and itincludes end members, the lower end portions 4l of which are providedwith y forwardly and then upwardly extending slots such as indicated at48 (Fig. 3). The seat section is so constructed as to have an upstandingange portion 49 at its rear edge, and adjacent each end u thereof, andsaid ange portion is provided with an opening 50.

The slot 48 serves to provide a hook formation 5I on the back reststructure and said hook is adapted to enter the corresponding opening 50while the upwardly extending portion of the slot 48 receives the upperedge portion of the upstanding flange 49. It will be observed that thehook element 5I serves to prevent endwise shifting of the back reststructure relative to the seat section and that the upwardly extendingportion of the notch 48 serves to prevent transverse movement of theback rest section relative to the seat section. The back rest sectionmay, however, be readily disengaged from or connected to the seatsection by permitting the back rest to swing rearwardly and downwardlyuntil the lower edge portion of the back rest may be liftedsubstantially vertically from the seat section. For holding the backrest in predetermined angular position of adjustment relative to theseat section, there is provided a bracket 52' which is pivoted asindicated at 53 on one of a pair of supporting members 54 which arecarried by the seat section. The rearward end of the member 52 isprovided with notches as indicated at 55, the said notches being adaptedto engage a pin such as indicated at 56, carried by the back restsection for locking the back rest in predetermined position. Variousangular positions of the back rest may be obtained by provision ofsuitably disposed notches 55.

Upstanding supporting members 54, 54 are provided for supporting an armrest structure. Each of the upstanding supports 54 is bolted asindicated at 5l to the frame of the seat section and the upper endportion 58 of each of said supports 54 is bent laterally outwardly.Suitable arm rest forming members 59 are mounted on the upper ends ofsaid supports 54 and in this instance the said arm rests are shown ascomprising sheet metal members 53 bent longitudinally to providehorizontal and vertical portions. When it is desired to collapse andpackage the structure, the arm rests are separated from the seat sectionby removing the bolts 51. The arm rest units are sufficiently rigid inthe described construction owing to the reinforcing effect of theangular structure 53, the vertical flange portion of which is preferablywelded at suitably spaced points to each of the supports 54 so that thelatter are maintained in xed parallel or other predeterminedrelationship to each other.

To further prevent endwise sway of the swinging structure, any suitableanti-sway device may be provided. In this instance, there is illustratedan anti-sway device comprising a pair of wires or rods Eli, '60 whichhave their outer ends connected in any convenient manner to therespectively adjacent ends of the seat structure approximately centrallyof the width thereof. The inner ends of the said wires or rods t0 areconnected through the agency of springs 6l, 6| to a bracket 62 which isrigidly connected to the tie rod approximately midway of its operativeor extended length. Any tendency for the swinging structure toswayendwise will be counteracted by the resistance of the springs 6l tostretch. Said springs are sufficiently flexible, however, to permitstretching thereof to the limited extent required by the normal swingingmotion of the seat structure.

The seat frame and the back rest frame may be equipped with any suitableform of spring support for seat and back rest cushions, conventionalforms being indicated in Figs. l and 2 of the drawings.

The described structure is very simple in its details and is very easyto set up or take down. It may be collapsed into a very compact packagefor shipment and storage with attendant advantages. It will be observedthat by reason of the folding frame construction described, the over-alllength of the collapsed frame structure need be no greater than theover-all length of the seat and back rest sections, this being an`especially desirable feature. It will also be noted that although theend structures of the frame are folded inwardly, they do not addmaterially to the thickness of the space required for receiving the tierod structure.

Changes in the described arrangement may be made without departing fromthe spirit of the invention, the scope of which should be determined byreference to the following claims, the same being construed as broadlyas possible consistent with the state of the art.

We claim:

1. A glider frame comprising normally upstanding end members `and a tierod, said end members being respectivelyconnected to the ends of saidtie rod so as to be foldable to substantially parallel relation theretoand to each other while maintaining their vertically disposed relationto said tie rod.

2. A collapsible glider frame comprising normally upstanding end membersand a tie rod, said end members being respectively connected to the endsof said tie rod so as to be foldable to the ends of said tie rod so asto be foldable in substantially parallel relation relative thereto andto each othenbut on opposite sides of the tie rod, while maintainingtheir vertically disposed relation to the latter, and said tie rod beingfoldable to reduce the length of the frame and so as to disposed the endframes, when folded, in substantially coi-planar relation.

4. A glider frame comprising normally upstanding end members and a tierod, said end members being respectively connected to the ends of saidtie rod so as to be foldable to substantially parallel relation theretoand to each other while maintaining their vertically disposed relationto said tie rod, and braces at each end of the frame and respectivelyhaving one end secured to said tie rod, diverging therefrom in asubstantially vertical plane, and pivotally connected at its other endto the adjacent end frame for maintaining said vertical relationshipbetween the end frames and said tie rod.

5. A glider frame comprising normally upstanding end members and a tierod, said end` members being respectively connected to the ends of saidtie rod so as to be foldable to substantially parallel relation theretoand to each other while maintaining their vertically disposed relationto said tie rod, and braces at each end of the frame and respectivelyhaving one end pivotally connected to said tie rod and divergingtherefrom in a horizontal direction and having its other end detachablyconnected to the adjacent end frame for locking the latter in operativeor unfolded relation to the tie rod.

6. A collapsible glider frame rcomprising normally upstanding endmembers and a tie rod, said end members being respectively connected tothe ends of said tie rod so as to be foldable to substantially parallelrelation thereto and to each other while maintaining their verticallydisposed position relative to the tie rod, and said tie rod comprising apair of pivotally connected sections so as to permit the tie rod to befolded upon itself to reduce the length of the frame when collapsed, andmeans for locking the tie rod in extended or unfolded condition.

'7. A collapsible glider frame comprising normally upstanding endmembers and a tie rod. said end members being respectively kconnected tothe ends of said tie rod so as to be foldable to substantially parallelrelation thereto and to each other while maintaining their verticallydisposed position relative to the tie rod, and said tie rod comprising apair of pivotally connected seotions so as to permit the tie rod to befolded upon itself to reduce the length of the frame when collapsed, andmeans for locking the tie rod in extended or unfolded condition, saidmeans comprising an, elongated member having a longitudinally extendingslot adjacent one end and having a locking pin projecting therefromadjacent its other end, said slotted end being connected to the pivotpin` connection between said tie rod sections so that the member isslidable lengthwise of the tie rod, and one of said tie rod sectionshaving a slot for receiving said projecting pin and the other sectionhaving a notch in its adjacent end in normally registering relation tosaid last mentioned slot, said projecting pin being adapted to engagesaid notch in one position of adjustment of said elongated member tolock said sections in extended or unfolded relation.

8. A collapsible glider frame comprising normally upstanding end membersand a tie rod, said end members being normally disposed in planesextending transversely of said tie rod and being respectively connectedto the end portions of said tie rod so as to be foldable tosubstantially parallel relation thereto and to each other, and said tierod comprising a pair of sections foldably connected so as to permit thetie rod to be folded horizontally upon itself to reduce the length ofthe frame when collapsed, and means for locking the tie rod inoperatively extended condition.

9. A collapsible glider frame comprising a tie rod horizontally foldableupon itself to reduced length, and a pair of end members normally oc-'cupying planes extending transversely of said tie rod, said end membersbeing respectively connected to the opposite end portions of said tierod so as to be foldable to approximately parallel relation to the tierod, one of said end members being foldable to the front of the tie rodand the other end member being foldable to the rear of said tie rod,whereby when said tie rod is folded upon itself, both of said membersare disposed on the same side of the folded tie rod.

HENRY T. HALLERAN. ROBERT CARLON.

